Tech Giants and Teachers' Union Launch $23 Million AI Training Initiative for Educators

AI's giants want to take over the classroom

On July 8, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic announced a $23 million partnership with one of the largest teachers' unions in the United States to bring more AI into K-12 classrooms. Called the National Academy for AI Instruction, the initiative will train teachers at a New York City headquarters on how to use AI both for teaching and for tasks like planning lessons and writing reports, starting this fall The companies could face an uphill battle. Right now, most of the public perceives AI's use in the classroom as nothing short of ruinous -- a surefire way to dampen critical thinking and hasten the decline of our collective attention span (a viral story from New York magazine, for example, described how easy it now is to coast through college thanks to constant access to ChatGPT). Amid that onslaught, AI companies insist that AI promises more individualized learning, faster and more creative lesson planning, and quicker grading. The companies sponsoring this initiative are, of course, not doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. No -- as they hunt for profits, their goal is to make users out of teachers and students. Anthropic is pitching its AI models to universities, and OpenAI offers free courses for teachers. In an initial training session for teachers by the new National Academy for AI Instruction, representatives from Microsoft showed teachers how to use the company's AI tools for lesson planning and emails, according to the New York Times. It's early days, but what does the evidence actually say about whether AI is helping or hurting students? There's at least some data to support the case made by tech companies: A recent survey of 1,500 teens conducted by Harvard's Graduate School of Education showed that kids are using AI to brainstorm and answer questions they're afraid to ask in the classroom. Studies examining settings ranging from math classes in Nigeria to colleges physics courses at Harvard have suggested that AI tutors can lead students to become more engaged. And yet there's more to the story. The same Harvard survey revealed that kids are also frequently using AI for cheating and shortcuts. And an oft-cited paper from Microsoft found that relying on AI can reduce critical thinking. Not to mention the fact that "hallucinations" of incorrect information are an inevitable part of how large language models work. There's a lack of clear evidence that AI can be a net benefit for students, and it's hard to trust that the AI companies funding this initiative will give honest advice on when not to use AI in the classroom. Despite the fanfare around the academy's launch, and the fact the first teacher training is scheduled to take place in just a few months, OpenAI and Anthropic told me they couldn't share any specifics. It's not as if teachers themselves aren't already grappling with how to approach AI. One such teacher, Christopher Harris, who leads a library system covering 22 rural school districts in New York, has created a curriculum aimed at AI literacy. Topics range from privacy when using smart speakers (a lesson for second graders) to misinformation and deepfakes (instruction for high schoolers). I asked him what he'd like to see in the curriculum used by the new National Academy for AI Instruction.

Microsoft, OpenAI, and a US Teachers' Union Are Hatching a Plan to 'Bring AI into the Classroom'

Microsoft and OpenAI are planning to announce Tuesday that they are helping to launch an AI training center for members of the second-largest teachers' union in the US, according to details about the initiative that appear to have been inadvertently published early on YouTube. The National Academy for AI Instruction will be based in New York City and aims to equip kindergarten up to 12th grade instructors in the American Federation of Teachers with "the tools and confidence to bring AI into the classroom in a way that supports learning and opportunity for all students," according to the description of a publicly accessible YouTube livestream scheduled for Tuesday morning. The YouTube page also lists Anthropic, which develops the Claude chatbot, as a collaborator on what's described as a $22.5 million initiative to bring free "AI training and curriculum" to teachers. The three AI companies and the union did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the information released on YouTube. On Monday, Microsoft and the union declined to share details ahead of an announcement planned for Tuesday morning in New York. American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten has said that educators must have a seat at the table in how AI is integrated into their profession. The new national academy could help teachers better understand fast-changing AI technologies and evolve their curriculum to prepare students for a world in which the tools are core to many jobs. But the program is likely to draw rebuke from some union members concerned about the commercial incentives of tech giants shaping what happens in US classrooms. Google, Apple, and Microsoft have competed for years to get their tools into schools in hopes of turning children into lifelong users. (Microsoft and OpenAI have also increasingly become competitors, despite a once-close relationship.) Just last week, several professors in the Netherlands published an open letter calling for local universities to reconsider financial relationships with AI companies and ban AI use in the classroom. All-out bans appear unlikely amid the growing usage of generative AI chatbots. So AI companies, employers, and labor unions may be left to try to find some common ground. The forthcoming training academy follows a partnership Microsoft struck in December 2023 to work with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, or AFL-CIO, on developing and deploying AI systems. The American Federation of Teachers is part of the AFL-CIO, and Microsoft had said at the time it would work with the union to explore AI education for workers and students. The federation's website says it represents about 1.8 million workers, which beside K-12 teachers also includes school nurses and college staff. The National Education Association, the largest US teachers' union, has about 3 million members, according to its website.

OpenAI, Microsoft and Anthropic Pony Up $23M to Teach Teachers About AI

Educators will learn about AI in a program created by the American Federation of Teachers. The American Federation of Teachers is using $23 million in funds from three tech companies to launch a program to train educators on AI skills. On Tuesday, the country's second-largest teachers' union announced $12.5 million from Microsoft, $10 million in funding and technical resources from OpenAI and $500,000 from Anthropic would be used for a New York-based hub to teach AI. The AFT is working in partnership with the United Federation of Teachers, a union representing New York school workers. The hub will be called the National Academy for AI Instruction and according to OpenAI, will serve 400,000 educators to develop AI fluency by 2030 with workshops, online courses and hands-on training sessions. The plan, according to the company, is to start in New York and scale nationwide, including additional hubs elsewhere in the country. The effort will begin with a focus on K-12 educators. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET's parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.) In a post on X, AFT president Randi Weingarten wrote, "This will be an innovative new training space where educators will learn not just about how A.I. works, but how to use it wisely, safely and ethically. It will be a place where tech developers and educators can talk with each other, not past each other." The announcement was not met with unanimous praise. On an announcement post on the UFT's Facebook page, commenters were not happy. "AI use has been proven to reduce brain activity but sure, why not," one commenter posted. Another wrote, "This is absolutely a horrible decision by the Union. It is undermining our work and also doesn't take in consideration the ramifications of AI in education."

OpenAI, Microsoft and Anthropic Contribute $23 Million for NYC-Based Educator AI Training

Teachers and school staff will learn about AI at a Manhattan training hub in a program created by the American Federation of Teachers. The American Federation of Teachers is using $23 million in funds from three tech companies to launch a facility in Manhattan to train educators on AI skills. On Tuesday, the country's second-largest teachers' union announced $12.5 million from Microsoft, $10 million in funding and technical resources from OpenAI and $500,000 from Anthropic would be used for a New York-based hub to teach AI. The AFT is working in partnership with the United Federation of Teachers, a union representing New York school workers. The hub will be called the National Academy for AI Instruction and according to OpenAI, will serve 400,000 educators to develop AI fluency by 2030 with workshops, online courses and hands-on training sessions. The plan, according to the company, is to start in New York and scale nationwide. The effort will begin with a focus on K-12 educators. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET's parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.) In a post on X, AFT president Randi Weingarten wrote, "This will be an innovative new training space where educators will learn not just about how A.I. works, but how to use it wisely, safely and ethically. It will be a place where tech developers and educators can talk with each other, not past each other." The announcement was not met with unanimous praise. On an announcement post on the UFT's Facebook page, commenters were not happy. "AI use has been proven to reduce brain activity but sure, why not," one commenter posted. Another wrote, "This is absolutely a horrible decision by the Union. It is undermining our work and also doesn't take in consideration the ramifications of AI in education."

OpenAI, Microsoft and Anthropic Contribute $23 Million for Educator AI Training

Teachers and school staff will learn about AI in a program created by the American Federation of Teachers. The American Federation of Teachers is using $23 million in funds from three tech companies to launch a program to train educators on AI skills. On Tuesday, the country's second-largest teachers' union announced $12.5 million from Microsoft, $10 million in funding and technical resources from OpenAI and $500,000 from Anthropic would be used for a New York-based hub to teach AI. The AFT is working in partnership with the United Federation of Teachers, a union representing New York school workers. The hub will be called the National Academy for AI Instruction and according to OpenAI, will serve 400,000 educators to develop AI fluency by 2030 with workshops, online courses and hands-on training sessions. The plan, according to the company, is to start in New York and scale nationwide, including additional hubs elsewhere in the country. The effort will begin with a focus on K-12 educators. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET's parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.) In a post on X, AFT president Randi Weingarten wrote, "This will be an innovative new training space where educators will learn not just about how A.I. works, but how to use it wisely, safely and ethically. It will be a place where tech developers and educators can talk with each other, not past each other." The announcement was not met with unanimous praise. On an announcement post on the UFT's Facebook page, commenters were not happy. "AI use has been proven to reduce brain activity but sure, why not," one commenter posted. Another wrote, "This is absolutely a horrible decision by the Union. It is undermining our work and also doesn't take in consideration the ramifications of AI in education."

OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic pledge $23 million to help train American teachers on AI

Teachers are pulling up a chair to implement AI in the classroom. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) announced on Tuesday that it will open a training center in New York City devoted to teaching educators how to responsibly use AI systems in their work. Also: Can AI save teachers from a crushing workload? There's new evidence it might Dubbed the National Center for AI Instruction, the training center will open this fall and kick off with a series of workshops on practical uses of AI for K-12 teachers. Representing close to two million members, the AFT is the second-largest teachers' union in the United States. The effort is being launched in partnership with OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic, who have pledged a cumulative $23 million for the hub. "Now is the time to ensure Al empowers educators, students, and schools," OpenAI wrote in a company blog post published Tuesday, announcing its plan to invest $10 million in the Center over the next five years. "For this to happen, teachers must lead the conversation around how to best harness its potential." Backlash and acceptance The rise of generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT in recent years has sparked widespread concern among educators. These systems can write essays and responses to homework questions in seconds, suddenly making it difficult to determine if assignments have been completed by hand or by machine. Also: The best free AI courses and certificates in 2025 - and I've tried many At the same time, however, many teachers have actively embraced the technology: a recent Gallup poll found that six-in-ten teachers used AI at work in the most recent school year, helping them save time on tasks like preparing lesson plans and providing feedback on student assignments. To make educators feel more comfortable about using AI, companies including Anthropic and OpenAI have launched education-specific versions of their chatbots: Claude for Education and ChatGPT Edu, respectively. Like many other industries that have suddenly had to contend with the ubiquity of powerful AI systems, the US education system has struggled to achieve a healthy balance with the technology. Some school systems, like New York City's public schools, initially opted to ban its employees and students from using ChatGPT. But over time, it's become clear that AI isn't going away, and that there is yet to be a long-term benefit in ignoring it. The NYC public school system later changed its no-ChatGPT policy, and some universities, like Duke University and the schools belonging to the California State University system, have begun providing premium ChatGPT services for free to students. Similarly, the Miami-Dade Public School system started deploying Google's Gemini chatbot to 100,000 of its high school students earlier this year. Also: Claude might be my new favorite AI tool for Android - here's why Like those university initiatives, the new partnership with the AFT will also benefit the AI companies sponsoring the effort, as it will place their technology into the hands of many thousands of new users. President Trump issued an executive order in April focused on equipping students and teachers with AI literacy skills, signaling efforts like this one with AFT are in line with the administration's forthcoming AI Action Plan, set to be released later this month. Impact on critical thinking Apologists for AI in the classroom will sometimes compare it to previous technologies, such as digital calculators or the internet, which felt disruptive at the time of their debut but have since become foundational to modern education. Also: Heavy AI use at work has a surprising relationship to burnout, new study finds A new body of research, however, is starting to show that using AI tools can inhibit critical thinking skills in human users. The technology's long-term impacts on human cognition and education, therefore, could be far more pronounced than we can know today. A recent study conducted by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Microsoft, for example, found that "while GenAI can improve worker efficiency, it can inhibit critical engagement with work and can potentially lead to long-term overreliance on the tool and diminished skill for independent problem-solving. Higher confidence in GenAI's ability to perform a task is related to less critical thinking effort." An MIT Media Lab study yielded similar findings: that using AI "undeniably reduced the friction involved in answering participants' questions," but that "this convenience came at a cognitive cost, diminishing users' inclination to critically evaluate the LLM's output or 'opinions' (probabilistic answers based on the training datasets)." Finding benefits while avoiding risks The National Academy for AI Instruction aims to chart a path forward for educators in the age of AI, one that embraces the technology's benefits while steering clear of the potential risks that are very much still coming into focus. Also: Samsung just answered everyone's biggest question about its AI strategy "The direct connection between a teacher and their kids can never be replaced by new technologies," Randi Weingarten, president of the AFT, said in a statement included in OpenAI's blog post, "but if we learn how to harness it, set commonsense guardrails and put teachers in the driver's seat, teaching and learning can be enhanced."

OpenAI, Microsoft Back New Academy to Bring AI Into Classrooms

OpenAI, Microsoft Corp. and Anthropic are partnering with one of the largest teachers unions in the US to establish a new training center to help educators use artificial intelligence tools in classrooms across the country. The National Academy for AI Instruction will provide access to AI training workshops and seminars free of cost to educators, with the goal of supporting 400,000 K-12 educators over the next five years, the American Federation of Teachers said on Tuesday. The initiative is supported by $23 million in funding from the three AI companies, with Microsoft serving as the single biggest backer.

Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic announce free AI academy with national teachers' union

The nation's largest teachers' union -- representing millions of staff within America's education system -- has joined forces with some of the world's top players in AI to ready another generation of tech-savvy educators. Announced Tuesday, July 8, by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and New York City-based affiliate United Federation of Teachers, along with tech giants Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic, the new National Academy for AI Instruction will funnel $23 million toward free AI training and curriculum for all 1.8 million union members. The goal of the program and its brick-and-mortar Manhattan facility -- the brainchild of venture capitalist Roy Bahat and modeled after other high-tech training centers -- is to create a "national model for AI-integrated curriculum," according to the coalition, focused on skills-based workshops, online courses, and hands-on training. Microsoft will invest $12.5 million into the training program, with an additional $8 million in funding from OpenAI and $500,000 from Anthropic, the New York Times reports. OpenAI will also provide $2 million in technical resources. "To best serve students, we must ensure teachers have a strong voice in the development and use of AI. This partnership will not only help teachers learn how to better use AI, it will give them the opportunity to tell tech companies how we can create AI that better serves kids," said Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Led by the AFT, the academy will begin with a New York-based trainee cohort in the fall, with plans to scale nationwide at a later date. Tech and labor partners say they expect to train 400,000 educators over the next five years. Microsoft, the academy's lead partner, partnered with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) in 2023, intended to start a dialogue on AI's anticipated disruption of global workforces following several successful organizing efforts among Microsoft workers. The company also agreed to neutrality frameworks with both the Communication Workers of America and the AFL-CIO, ensuring collective bargaining opportunities for workers seeking AI protections. "The direct connection between a teacher and their kids can never be replaced by new technologies, but if we learn how to harness it, set commonsense guardrails and put teachers in the driver's seat, teaching and learning can be enhanced," wrote AFT President Randi Weingarten. "The academy is a place where educators and school staff will learn about AI -- not just how it works, but how to use it wisely, safely, and ethically." At large, corporations and AI developers have placed huge bets on the education field, including investing millions into initiatives designed to get free, premium AI tools, chatbots, and coding curriculum into K-12 and higher education classrooms. Microsoft, for example, launched new AI tools designed specifically for teachers on Microsoft 365, as well as a standalone AI app, Microsoft Learning Zone, geared toward classroom lesson plans and activities. Google, which leads the industry in classroom tech, has gone live with a plethora of AI features for Google Classroom, Workspace for Education, and Chromebook users, including an education-specific Gemini integration, as well as its own education LLM. In April, OpenAI announced it would offer two months of ChatGPT Plus for free to enrolled college students, following the launch of a free curriculum for K-12 teachers on integrating AI into their courses. OpenAI's vice president of education Leah Belsky is on record saying the company hopes to make AI the "core infrastructure of higher education" and increase chatbot use among student populations, despite concerns about the tech's affect on educators and potential longterm side effects for student users.

AI Giants Are Pouring $23M Into Teacher Training Programs

AI tools have become deeply embedded in how many students learn and complete schoolwork -- and that usage is only poised to increase. On Tuesday, the American Federation of Teachers announced an AI training hub for educators, backed by $23 million from Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic. The AFT is the second-largest teachers' union, representing 1.8 million teachers and educational staffers across the country. Their training hub will open in New York City this fall, featuring workshops that will educate teachers on how to use AI tools for tasks like generating lesson plans and quizzes, or writing emails to parents. Microsoft is providing $12.5 million for AI teacher training over the next five years. OpenAI is contributing $10 million.

You'll Never Guess Why OpenAI Is Pouring Money Into the Second Largest Teachers' Union

Big tech continues its ensnaring of a desperate education industry. Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic -- three leading AI chatbot makers -- have poured $23 million into the second largest teachers' union in the US, the New York Times reports. The union, the American Federation of Teachers, revealed its tech patrons on Tuesday, when it announced that it was using the funding to launch an AI training center for educators, which is being called the National Academy for AI Instruction. Randi Wengarten, president of the AFT, which represents some 1.8 million members, told the NYT that the New York City-based center will be an "innovative new training space where school staff and teachers will learn not just about how AI works, but how to use it wisely, safely and ethically." "It will be a place where tech developers and educators can talk with each other, not past each other," she added. Per the NYT, Microsoft is providing the lion's share with $12.5 million for the center over the next two years. OpenAI is close behind with $10 million in funding and technical resources, and Anthropic is chipping in $500,000 for the first year. The funding comes at a time when educators are strapped for cash. The Trump administration moved to cut off nearly $7 billion in funding for public schools last week, which included money that would go directly towards teacher training programs and afterschool activities. Trump has also made no secret of his intent to completely dismantle the Department of Education, which doles out funds to K-12 schools and provides financial aid to students. Money, however, isn't a problem for the AI-enamored tech industry, and it's wasted absolutely no time to suck learning institutions into its orbit. Some of the most notable examples come from higher education. Duke University recently partnered with OpenAI to offer unlimited ChatGPT access to students, along with unveiling its own "DukeGPT" tool. And last month, Ohio State University announced that it would make all of its students take mandatory "AI fluency" courses starting next fall. Needless to say, it's an uneasy marriage. Many educators are frustrated with the explosive rise of the tools, which has led to a distressing number of their students turning in entire essays and other assignments that were AI-generated with almost zero effort. AI models are also notorious for hallucinating, or fabricating factual claims, along with frequently defying their own safety guardrails. But most alarmingly, a burgeoning but compelling body of scientific research has linked excessive use of AI chatbots with plummeting grades and memory loss in students, and a sharp decline in critical thinking skills -- a phenomenon that's being called cognitive offloading, a study led by researchers at Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon found. "I do think that there is a risk," Brad Smith, the president of Microsoft, told the NYT, stressing the need for more research into the cognitive effects of generative AI usage. "The lesson of social media is don't dismiss problems or concerns." The funding of an AI training center may not be as blatant an intrusion into education as OpenAI shoving ChatGPT down colleges' throats, but in the end it serves the purpose of making AI in education feel like a foregone conclusion. Never mind that the tech hasn't proven it can reliably get facts straight, or that we're still grappling with its long-term effects on the brain -- because, kids, your teachers are already accepting that it's here to stay. They're being put through big-tech funded courses to learn about it, all under the guise of ensuring everyone can use AI "safely and ethically." "It's a long-game investment by companies to turn young people into consumers who identify with a particular brand," Trevor Griffey, a lecturer in labor studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a president of union representing the institution's librarians and lectures, told the NYT.

Anthropic, Microsoft and OpenAI fund new school to educate teachers on using AI

Anne Marie D. Lee is an editor for CBS MoneyWatch. She writes about topics including personal finance, the workplace, travel and social media. Leading artificial intelligence companies are stepping up their efforts to bring AI to schools across the U.S. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) on Tuesday announced the fall launch of the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million endeavor backed by Anthropic, Microsoft and OpenAI, three main players in the generative AI revolution. "The direct connection between a teacher and their kids can never be replaced by new technologies, but if we learn how to harness it, set commonsense guardrails and put teachers in the driver's seat, teaching and learning can be enhanced,"AFT President Randi Weingarten said in a release. OpenAI has committed to giving $10 million over five years, while Microsoft will provide $12.5 million. Anthropic, meanwhile, will contribute $500,000 the first year, said Andrew Crook, a spokesperson for the AFT. The companies say the training academy will offer a space for educators to learn how to harness AI and implement it safely and ethically in their classrooms. The programming, designed by AI experts and educators, will include workshops, online courses and hands-on training sessions, according to the AFT. Courses will begin this fall at the United Federation of Teachers' facility in Manhattan, New York. Funding from the tech trio will also go toward the buildout of additional hubs throughout the U.S., which are set to open in 2030, according to Crook. UFT is an affiliate of AFT. AFT said the academy will offer free virtual training to all 1.8 million members in its union, starting with K-12 educators. The federation's ultimate goal is to train 400,000 educators -- about 10% of the U.S. teaching workforce -- at the in-person facility over the next five years. "We want to do it in a way that teachers can really master the tools," Randi Weingarten, the president of AFT, told CBS MoneyWatch.

Major US teachers union teams up with AI giants

New York (AFP) - The second biggest teachers union in the United States unveiled a groundbreaking partnership Tuesday with AI powerhouses Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic to develop a comprehensive training program helping educators master artificial intelligence. "Teachers are facing huge challenges, which include navigating AI wisely, ethically and safely," said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers during a press conference in New York. "In the absence of rules of the game and guardrails (from the US government)...we are working with these partners so that they understand the commitment we have to our students," she added. The AFT represents 1.8 million members across the United States, from kindergarten through high school. The announcement came as generative AI has already begun reshaping education, with students using tools like ChatGPT for everything from essay writing to homework help. Meanwhile, teachers grapple with questions about academic integrity, plagiarism, and how to adapt traditional teaching methods. The AI giants are investing a total of $23 million in creating a New York training center to guide teachers through generative AI learning. Microsoft is contributing $12.5 million, OpenAI $10 million, and Anthropic $500,000. The five-year initiative won't develop new AI interfaces but intends to familiarize teachers with existing tools. "What we're saying to the world and to teachers across the country is you now have a place, you now have a home, a place where you can come and co-create and understand how to harness this tool to make your classroom the best classroom it possibly can be," said Gerry Petrella, Microsoft's general manager for US public policy. The National Academy for AI Teaching will launch its training program this fall, aiming to serve 400,000 people over five years. Microsoft staff are already participating in a tech refresher session this week. AFT affiliates include the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), which represents about 200,000 New York teachers. UFT President Michael Mulgrew drew parallels between AI and social media, which generated excitement at launch but proved to be "a dumpster fire," in his view. "We're all very skeptical, but we also are very hopeful," he added.

Teachers union partners with Anthropic, Microsoft and OpenAI to launch AI-training academy

Anne Marie D. Lee is an editor for CBS MoneyWatch. She writes about topics including personal finance, the workplace, travel and social media. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) on Tuesday announced the fall launch of the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million endeavor funded by Anthropic, Microsoft and OpenAI, three main players in the generative AI revolution. With the creation of the academy, leading artificial intelligence companies are stepping up their efforts to bring AI to schools across the U.S. OpenAI has committed to giving $10 million over five years, while Microsoft will provide $12.5 million. Anthropic, meanwhile, will contribute $500,000 the first year, said Andrew Crook, a spokesperson for the AFT. While some educators have expressed concern over being replaced by AI, AFT said it seeks to embrace the technology in a way that protects teachers' place at the head of the classroom. With this in mind, the foundation said reached out to tech companies for their assistance in developing the AI-training academy. "The direct connection between a teacher and their kids can never be replaced by new technologies, but if we learn how to harness it, set commonsense guardrails and put teachers in the driver's seat, teaching and learning can be enhanced," AFT President Randi Weingarten said in the announcement. "We want to do it in a way that teachers can really master the tools," Weingarten told CBS MoneyWatch. Courses will begin this fall at the United Federation of Teachers' facility in Manhattan, New York. Funding from the tech trio will also go toward the buildout of additional hubs throughout the U.S., which are set to open in 2030, according to Crook. UFT is an affiliate of AFT. The companies say the training academy will offer a space for educators to learn how to harness AI and implement it safely and ethically in their classrooms. The programming, designed by AI experts and educators, will include workshops, online courses and hands-on training sessions, according to the AFT. "We're at a pivotal moment in education, and how we introduce AI to educators today will shape teaching for generations to come," Anthropic co-Founder Jack Clark said in an emailed statement on the partnership. AFT said the academy will offer free virtual training to all 1.8 million members in its union, starting with K-12 educators. The federation's ultimate goal is to train 400,000 educators -- about 10% of the U.S. teaching workforce -- at the in-person facility over the next five years. AI is already reshaping classrooms, as students and teachers have access to AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT, which the latter are using more frequently, according to a recent survey from investment bank Tyton Partners. The rapid rise of AI has raised concerns about students using the technology to cheat or complete their assignments, with some schools implementing AI detection software. Meanwhile, research is also beginning to tease apart how AI affects our thinking. A recent study from MIT found that over-reliance on artificial intelligence can reduce brain activity and critical cognitive functions. Keeping teachers in the drivers' seat is key to harnessing AI technology so that it is being used constructively in the classroom, according to AFT's Weingarten. Gerry Petrella, general manager of U.S. public policy at Microsoft, echoed her sentiments. "We know students are going to benefit the most from this technology when we put teachers at the center of this tool," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

OpenAI to Train 4 Lakh Teachers in US to Build AI-Ready Classrooms | AIM

The initiative promises free workshops, hands-on training, and AI tools specifically built for educators. OpenAI is doubling down on its commitment to democratise AI education by launching large-scale initiatives in the United States. The company has partnered with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to launch the National Academy for AI Instruction, a five-year initiative aimed at training four lakh K-12 teachers, nearly one in 10 across the country, to use and teach AI in classrooms effectively. With a $10 million contribution over five years, including $8 million in funding and $2 million in engineering and computing support, OpenAI will help establish a flagship training hub in New York City and support the development of additional centres by 2030. The initiative promises free workshops, hands-on training, and AI tools specifically built for educators, with a strong focus on equity and accessibility in underserved school districts. "Educators make the difference, and they should lead this next shift with AI," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said, recalling how a high school teacher sparked his own early curiosity in AI. The academy is also backed by the United Federation of Teachers, Microsoft and Anthropic, and aims to ensure that teachers are at the forefront of setting commonsense guardrails and using AI to enhance, rather than replace, human teaching. Meanwhile, in a parallel development, OpenAI announced the launch of OpenAI Academy India in collaboration with the IndiaAI Mission under the IT and electronics ministry. This marks the first international expansion of OpenAI's educational platform, aiming to train one million teachers in generative AI skills. The partnership will deliver AI training in English and Hindi (with more regional languages to follow), and extend to civil servants via the iGOT Karmayogi platform. Additional efforts include six-city workshops, hackathons across seven states, and $100,000 in API credits to 50 AI startups. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw hailed the initiative as a step towards making AI knowledge accessible to every citizen. Jason Kwon, chief strategy officer at OpenAI, called India "one of the most dynamic countries for AI development".

Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic Pour $23 Million into an AI Training Center for Teachers

The hub is backed by some of tech's biggest companies, including Microsoft and OpenAI, and is part of a bigger push to bring AI to education. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the second-largest U.S. teachers' union with 1.8 million members across the U.S., is starting a new training hub with funding from the biggest AI names. AFT announced on Tuesday that it would start a new AI training center for teachers, the National Academy for AI Instruction, with backing from Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic. The hub is set to open in New York City this fall, starting with workshops, online courses, and hands-on training for K-12 educators on how to use AI for tasks like creating lesson plans. The center aims to support 400,000 teachers over the next five years. Microsoft has committed $12.5 million to the hub, OpenAI will provide $10 million in funding, and Anthropic will give $500,000 for the first year the hub opens, for a total of $23 million in funding. The move is part of a broader push by AI companies to bring AI to the classroom. AI use is rapidly becoming normalized in higher education, with California State University stating in February that it would provide ChatGPT for its 460,000 university students. High schools are also feeling the push, with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the third-largest school system in the nation, introducing Google AI chatbots to more than 100,000 high school students this spring. Related: A New AI Chatbot Is Revolutionizing Business School Curriculum and Accreditation -- Here's What It Could Change A Bloomberg Intelligence report predicted that the generative AI market will expand to $1.3 trillion by 2032, up from just $40 billion in 2022. Teachers are also increasingly using AI. Consulting group Tyton Partners found that the percentage of teachers who reported using AI nearly doubled from 22% in 2023 to 40% in 2024. The same survey found that in 2024, nearly 60% of students reported using AI at least once a month for assignments. However, not everyone approves of AI use in the classroom. Earlier this year, Northeastern University student Ella Stapleton asked the school for a refund for an $8,000 course after she noticed the professor used AI to create lecture notes and slide presentations. Northeastern University denied her request. There are also cognitive dangers associated with AI. A study released by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University in January found that while AI can improve efficiency, it can also "reduce critical engagement," leading to "diminished independent problem-solving." The researchers found that humans who were more confident in AI's abilities used fewer critical thinking skills. They left the thinking to AI instead of doing it themselves.

OpenAI and Microsoft bankroll new AI training for teachers - The Economic Times

The American Federation of Teachers is launching an AI training hub for educators, funded by Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic, to integrate AI tools into classrooms. This initiative follows similar moves by California State University and Miami-Dade County Public Schools to adopt AI technologies like ChatGPT and Gemini.The tech industry's campaign to embed artificial intelligence chatbots in classrooms is accelerating. The American Federation of Teachers, the second-largest U.S. teachers union, said Tuesday that it would start an AI training hub for educators with $23 million in funding from three leading chatbot makers: Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic. The union said it planned to open the National Academy for AI Instruction in New York City, starting with hands-on workshops for teachers this fall on how to use AI tools for tasks like generating lesson plans. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said the AI academy was inspired by other unions, such as the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, that have worked with industry partners to set up high-tech training centers. The New York hub will be "an innovative new training space where school staff and teachers will learn not just about how AI works, but how to use it wisely, safely and ethically," Weingarten said in an interview. The industry funding is part of a drive by U.S. tech companies to reshape education with generative AI chatbots. These tools, including OpenAI's ChatGPT and Microsoft's Copilot, can produce humanlike essays, research summaries and class quizzes. In February, California State University, the largest U.S. university system, said it would provide ChatGPT for some 460,000 students. This spring, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the third-largest U.S. school district, began rolling out Google's Gemini AI for more than 100,000 high schoolers. The Trump administration, which recently froze nearly $7 billion in funding for schools, has called on industry to pony up for AI education. Last week, the White House urged U.S. companies and nonprofit groups to provide AI grants, technology and training materials for schools, teachers and students. Since then, dozens of companies have signed on, including Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and OpenAI. But some researchers have warned that generative AI tools are so new in schools that there is little evidence of concrete educational benefit -- and significant concern about risk. "I do think that there is a risk," said Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, noting that he frequently cited the critical thinking study to employees. He added that more rigorous academic research on the effects of generative AI was needed. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic are investing millions to train teachers how to use AI

New York -- A group of leading tech companies is teaming up with two teachers' unions to train 400,000 kindergarten through 12th grade teachers in artificial intelligence over the next five years. The National Academy of AI Instruction, announced on Tuesday, is a US$23 million initiative backed by Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, the national American Federation of Teachers and New York-based United Federation of Teachers. As part of the effort, the group says it will develop AI training curriculum for teachers that can be distributed online and at an in-person campus in New York City. The announcement comes as schools, teachers and parents grapple with whether and how AI should be used in the classroom. Educators want to make sure students know how to use a technology that's already transforming workplaces, while teachers can use AI to automate some tasks and spend more time engaging with students. But AI also raises ethical and practical questions, which often boil down to: If kids use AI to assist with schoolwork and teachers use AI to help with lesson planning or grading papers, where is the line between advancing student learning versus hindering it? Some schools have prohibited the use of AI in classrooms, while others have embraced it. In New York City, the education department banned the use of ChatGPT from school devices and networks in 2023, before reversing course months later and developing an AI policy lab to explore the technology's potential. The new academy hopes to create a national model for how schools and teachers can integrate AI into their curriculum and teaching processes, without adding to the administrative work that so often burdens educators. "AI holds tremendous promise but huge challenges -- and it's our job as educators to make sure AI serves our students and society, not the other way around," AFT President Randi Weingarten said in a statement. "The academy is a place where educators and school staff will learn about AI -- not just how it works, but how to use it wisely, safely and ethically." The program will include workshops, online courses and in-person trainings designed by AI experts and educators, and instruction will begin this fall. Microsoft is set to invest $12.5 million in the training effort over the next five years, and OpenAI will contribute $10 million -- $2 million of which will be in in-kind resources such as computing access. Anthropic plans to invest $500,000 in the project's first year and may spend more over time. The tech companies involved also stand to benefit by gaining feedback from teachers and potentially getting their AI tools in the hands of educators and students around the country. Similar educational partnerships have been a boon to tech companies in the past -- Google Chromebooks, for example, are widely used in part because of their popularity in classrooms. Chris Lehane, chief global affairs officer at OpenAI, told CNN at the program's launch event in New York City on Tuesday that the trainings will be a mix of general information on how AI systems work and specific instruction on tools from Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic. There's also potential for new AI products to be developed by or in partnership with the teachers. "How can we make sure that, in the K-12 context, that we're equipping those kids, those students, with the skills that they're going to need to be able to succeed in what we think of as the intelligence age?" Lehane said during the event. "And you can't do that unless it's actually given to the teachers to do that work."

AFT to launch National Academy for AI Instruction with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic and United Federation of Teachers

NEW YORK, July 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The AFT, alongside the United Federation of Teachers and lead partner Microsoft Corp., founding partner OpenAI, and Anthropic, announced the launch of the National Academy for AI Instruction today. The groundbreaking $23 million education initiative will provide access to free AI training and curriculum for all 1.8 million members of the AFT, starting with K-12 educators. It will be based at a state-of-the-art bricks-and-mortar Manhattan facility designed to transform how artificial intelligence is taught and integrated into classrooms across the United States. The academy will help address the gap in structured, accessible AI training and provide a national model for AI-integrated curriculum and teaching that puts educators in the driver's seat. Teachers are facing tremendous technological changes, which include the challenges of navigating AI wisely, ethically and safely. They are overwhelmed and looking for ways to gain the skills they need to help their students succeed. The program is the first partnership between a national union and tech companies, structured to create a sustainable education infrastructure for AI. "To best serve students, we must ensure teachers have a strong voice in the development and use of AI," said Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft. "This partnership will not only help teachers learn how to better use AI, it will give them the opportunity to tell tech companies how we can create AI that better serves kids." The announcement was made at the headquarters of the AFT's largest affiliate, the 200,000-member New York City-based UFT, where hundreds of educators were on hand for a three-day training session, including six hours of AI-focused material that highlighted practical, hands-on ways to marry the emerging technology with established pedagogy. "AI holds tremendous promise but huge challenges -- and it's our job as educators to make sure AI serves our students and society, not the other way around," said AFT President Randi Weingarten. "The direct connection between a teacher and their kids can never be replaced by new technologies, but if we learn how to harness it, set commonsense guardrails and put teachers in the driver's seat, teaching and learning can be enhanced. "The academy is a place where educators and school staff will learn about AI -- not just how it works, but how to use it wisely, safely and ethically. This idea started with the partnership between lead partner Microsoft and the AFL-CIO in late 2023. We jointly hosted symposiums over the past two summers, but never reached critical mass to ensure America's educators are coaches in the game, not spectators on the sidelines. Today's announcement would not be possible without the cooperation of Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic and the leadership at the United Federation of Teachers, and I thank them for their efforts." "When it comes to AI in schools, the question is whether it is being used to disrupt education for the benefit of students and teachers or at their expense. We want this technology to be used by teachers for their benefit, by helping them to learn, to think and to create," said Chris Lehane, chief global affairs officer of OpenAI. "This AI academy will help ensure that AI is being deployed to help educators do what they do best -- teach -- and in so doing, help advance the small-'d' democratizing power of education." "We're at a pivotal moment in education, and how we introduce AI to educators today will shape teaching for generations to come," said Anthropic Co-founder and Head of Policy Jack Clark. "That's why we're thrilled to partner with the AFT to empower teachers with the knowledge and tools to guide their students through this evolving landscape. Together, we're building a future where AI supports great teaching in ethical and effective ways." Anchored by the New York City facility, the National Academy for AI Instruction will serve as a premier hub for AI education, equipped with cutting-edge technology and operated under the leadership of the AFT and a coalition of public and private stakeholders. The academy will begin instruction later this fall and then scale nationally. Over five years, the program aims to support 400,000 educators -- approximately 10% of the U.S. teaching workforce -- reaching more than 7.2 million students. Through the training of thousands of teachers annually and by offering credential pathways and continuing education credits, the academy will facilitate broad AI instruction and expand opportunity for all. "For so long, there have been many new programs that were weaponized against educators," said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. "Our goal is to develop a tool that gives educators the ability to train their AI and incorporate it into their instructional planning, giving them more one-on-one time with their students." "Sometimes as a teacher you suffer burnout and you can't always communicate to the class in the right voice or find the right message and I feel like these AI tools we are working with can really help with that -- especially phrasing things in a way that helps students learn better," says Marlee Katz, teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing in multiple New York City public schools in the borough of Queens. "The tools don't take away your voice, but if I need to sound more professional or friendly or informed, I feel like these tools are like a best friend that can help you communicate. I love it." "As an instructional technology specialist for over 27 years, watching educators learn and work with AI reminds me of when teachers were first using word processors. We are watching educators transform the way people use technology for work in real time, but with AI it's on another unbelievable level because it's just so much more powerful," says Vincent Plato, New York City Public Schools K-8 educator and UFT Teacher Center director. "I think the UFT and the AFT were right to say AI is something educators should take ownership of, not only because it can assist with enhancing the way they interact with and meet the needs of students, but also because AI assists with educator workflow. It can be a thought partner when they're working by themselves, whether that's late-night lesson planning, looking at student data, or filing any types of reports -- a tool that's going to be transformative for teachers and students alike." Together, Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic and the AFT are proud to help our nation's teachers become AI-proficient educators and to leverage this unique partnership to democratize access to AI skills, ensuring that students from all backgrounds are prepared to thrive in an AI-driven future. Designed by leading AI experts and experienced educators, the program will include workshops, online courses, and hands-on training sessions, ensuring that teachers are well-equipped to navigate an AI-driven future. It will bring together interdisciplinary research teams to drive innovation in AI education and establish a national model for AI-integrated teaching environments. Finally, the academy will provide ongoing support and resources to help educators stay updated with the latest advancements in AI. Innovation labs and feedback cycles will ensure these tools are refined based on actual classroom experiences. Through scalable training modules, virtual learning environments and credential pathways, the program empowers a diverse range of educators to become confident leaders in AI instruction. In turn, these teachers will bring AI literacy, ethical reasoning and creative problem-solving into classrooms that might otherwise be left behind in the digital transformation. The idea for the academy was first proposed by venture capitalist, educator, activist and AFT member Roy Bahat. He is currently the head of Bloomberg Beta, the venture capital arm of Bloomberg, and will be joining the academy's board of directors. For more information about the National Academy for AI Instruction, please visit AIinstruction.org. About the AFT The AFT represents 1.8 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators. About Microsoft Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. About OpenAI OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company with a mission to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. About Anthropic Anthropic is an AI safety and research company that creates reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems. Anthropic's flagship product is Claude, a large language model trusted by millions of users worldwide. Learn more about Anthropic and Claude at anthropic.com. About UFT The UFT represents nearly 200,000 members and is the sole bargaining agent for most of the nonsupervisory educators who work in the New York City public schools. This includes teachers; retired members; classroom paraprofessionals; and many other school-based titles including school secretaries, school counselors, occupational and physical therapists, family child care providers, nurses, and other employees at several private educational institutions and some charter schools.